Psalms 55
1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
“For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my prayer, O God! Hide not thyself from my supplication!
2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Attend unto me, and hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,
3 at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
On account of the clamors of the enemy, On account of the violence of the wicked. For they bring evil upon me, And in wrath set themselves against me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling have seized me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. (Pause)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Day and night do these go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud depart not from its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
It was not an enemy that reviled me, Then I could have borne it; Nor one that hated me, who rose up against me; From him I could have hid myself.
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in company.
15 Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
May sudden death seize upon them! May they go down to the underworld alive! For wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
As for me, I will call upon God, And Jehovah will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, And he will hear my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He will deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against me.
19 God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— (Selah) because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
God will hear me, and bring them down, —He that hath been judge of old. (Pause) Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.
21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
Yea, thou, O God! wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!
